Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-07-26
DAILY HERALD.
SOME REMARKABLE JEWELS.
ses That Have Heretofore
GlOrlfied Kings.

stones That Have Heretofore
Glorified Kings.
Diamonds are supposed to be chiefly
interesting as a means of personal
adornment, and most OF them have no
higher destiny than to advertise an
ingenious actress or to cast an ephem-
eral glamour over some scene of social
festivity. Many OF them have the
honor to be endeared to the hearts of
their possessors, and occasion at
the hour Of parting grief none
the less poignant because they do
not share it. The hand of death
is not more terrible than the hand
of the "uncle" or creditor, grasping
with untimely claim these treasures
that frequently involve ones social
position. The belle who has sown
the earth broadcast with suitors to her
own heart confesses, though she
would scorn the allegation from an
other source, that she owes much to
her brilliant allies. The "masher" on
the avenue, with more candor and
less personal pride, openly builds his
hopes on his diamond-pin, and the
ballroom swell, as he turns the
binding radiance of his solitaire upon
the helpless ranks of femininity, is
proudly, superciliously conscious OF
mental salaam on all sides.
While these meaner stones are
shaping individual destinies, there are
others that have reflected glory upon
empires, survived the fall of dynasties
and come down to modern times as
rich in reminiscence as they are in
luster. A knowledge OF the most
famous diamonds and the chief points
of interest in their history became
accessible through the collections made
by the Emperor Napoleon Ill, which
consisted in series of models in rock
crystal, in which the shape, cut.
ting and precise shade of color OF
each stone were faithfully copied,
The largest diamond of the French
collection is the Regent, which was
added to the French treasure in 1917.
1t is now in the collection OF the
Louvre, and its proportions and bril-
Iiancy are considered matchless. 1t
was found in the mine of Parteal,
south of Golconda, and weighed in
the rough state 4l0 carats. 1t was
bought in 1902 by Mr.. Pitt, the
Governor of Madras and grandfather
OF the first Earl of Chatham, for
about G20 900. AT cost of $4,000 it
was cut in London as brilliant OF 1861
carats, and was sold a little later to
the regent Duke of Orleans for Louis
XIV. The price was 9130, ,0OO-about
half the estimated value. AT the cor
onation of Louis XIV this crown was
surmounted with a f1eur-de lis, the
central point of which was the Sancy
in the middle of the band of the crown
was the Regent and near it the Mirror
OF Portugal and other Mazarian gems.
From that time the Regent became
identified with the fortunes Of France.
1t has passed through many revolu-
tions, and, very literally through many
hands, for in the days that followed
the fall of Louis XVI the Regent
carefully chained and guarded by gen
d'armes, was exhibited to the people
of Paris, and any half-starved work
man might hold this symbol of royal
splendor and epitome of 5000, 900
francs for few moments in his brown
hand. The Regent, stolen by robbers
in 1892 and its hiding-place revealed
at the gate of death by one OF the
reckless band, was pawned to the
Batavian government by Napoleon L.,
and after having been mounted in the
state sword of Bonaparte, finally gilt
tered in the Imperial diadem through
the palmy days Of Napoleon III.
The Florentine, or Grand Duke OF
Tuscany, is the finest diamond owned
by Austria 1t weighs 1391a carats.
1t is little yellow, and is cut to repre-
sent a star of nine rays. Like the
Sancy, it belonged to Charles the
Bold, and was sold by Genoese mer-
chant to Ludovic Sforza, Duke OF Mi
Ian. 1t afterward became the property
OF Pope Julius H., who presented it to
the Emperor of Austria. The history
of the Sancy diamond is one of many
viscissitudes. 1t originally orna-
mented the helmet OF Charles the
Bold, who lost it in the battle OF
Gransom (l477). 1t was found by
Swiss soldier, who sold it to priest
for francs; it disappeared then for
some time until, in the year 1889,
King Anthony OF Portugal pledged it
to Nicholade Harlay, Seigneur of
Sancy, the treasurer OF King Henry
Nv OF France, who retained it by pay
ing 100, 900 livres. After being pawned
once or twice it was sold to James |.
of England in 1904, and his sue
cessor wore it when he mounted the
throne. Henrietta OF France afterward
ran away with it and, pressed for
want of funds, sold it along with an
other. called the Mirror OF Portugal,
in 1855. Mazarin got possession OF
worn by the King OF France
until the theft of 1892. After vari-
GUS wanderings the Sancy fell into the
hands of Charles ", the king OF
Spain and Joseph Bonaparte found in
the crown Golfer when he took posses
sion of the throne. He sold it to raise
money, and it then passed to the Dem
idof family. 1t was exposed for sale
at an exhibition at Paris some years
ago, but remained unsold, and is now
in India.
The Star OF the South is an extraor-
dinary stone. 1t was found in 1858,
in the mines OF Boganan, Brazil, by a
poor negress. 1t weighed 2579 carats
in the roogh and was cut at Amster-
dam by Coster. 1t is of an irreproach-
able purity, transparent, and takes by
refraction lovely rose tint. Another
singular stone is the blue diamond, sup
posed to be one of those stolen from the
crown Jewels of France in 1892. 1t was
probably recut before it was purchased
by Mr.. A. j. Beresford Hope for 918,-
900, losing % carats in the process, and
now only weighs 441s carats. Its
tint Ia Of the finest sannhire and its